Inverness County Welcomes Refugees Resettlement Project
Donald is continuing his work with the Canadian Hydrographic Survey, Central Arctic Region in Burlington Ontario. He is probably preparing now for his second summer visit to the Arctic. His work is scheduled so that he collects his field data during a six week Arctic visit in the summer and does the office work in Burlington during the rest of the year, when the weather in the Arctic is less hospitable.
Christiana has been taking training as a personal care worker and will soon be qualified and able to seek employment. With two incomes, they hope to be able to save faster to bring Christiana’s mother over from the refugee camp as conditions there are becoming progressively more difficult. The children, Israel and Donalda are doing well. Israel may be old enough to start preschool in September.
Donald has scrapped his van and he now has a compact sedan. He was also making enquiries about a mortgage, so they are considering buying a home of their own.
Dave Chapman
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Inverness-Guysborough Presbytery
The November meeting was held at St. Stephen’s United Church in Port Hood on November 18th. It was a week later than usual due to Remembrance Day. The worship service was conducted by Andrea Currie and Margaret Poulette, members of the Mi’kMaq community. It was an impressive service of smudge, drums, Mi’kMaq prayers and song.
Rev. Wayne Yorke of West Bay proposed an “Amazing Grace Race 2009” modeled after the Amazing Race on TV. It would entail travel by groups from several pastoral charges to several other pastoral charges and participation in activities at each. In the process they would meet the people there, and get to know the participating churches. Several contact people/organizers volunteered. Proceeds would go to Mission & Service.
The January meeting was held at West Bay United Church on January 27. Jen Power and members of the L’Arche Community presented the Order of the Day.
A JNAC committee will be set up for St. John’s Pastoral Charge as Rev. Roger Moore has submitted a letter of intent to retire effective October 11, 2009 after 40 years in full-time ministry.
Financial support for school breakfast programs at Chedabucto Guysborough and Fanning Canso was confirmed. A visioning activity “What will Inverness Guysborough Presbytery look like in ten years’ time” was conducted to make a model for long term planning.
The March meeting was held at Greenwood United Church in Baddeck on March 10. Donna Tourneur gave a slide show presentation that she had prepared for Conference executive to tell people about the Inverness-Guysborough Presbytery.
Discussion was held regarding a celebration of the ministry offered to this presbytery by Maxine Smith for her years of service as secretary.
We sponsored five for Youth Forum and six Intermediates at Conference.
So far, four congregations have expressed interest in the “Amazing Grace Race 2009”.
The April meeting was held in St. Matthew’s United Church in Bayfield on April 14.
Applications for mission grants for school breakfast programs in Guysborough and Canso were approved for submission. The biblical character represented in the concrete and stone tablet went unidentified.
Ruth Digdon distributed certificates recognizing 2008 Mission & Service contributions.
The June meeting will be held at Alexander Grant United Church in East Lake Ainslie on June 2.
Dave Chapman
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St. David’s Anniversary
St. David’s Anniversary will be celebrated on October 18th this year at 11 A.M. The Rev. Robert Latimer will be our guest speaker.
